Simon White Wills

¹Freestone County Clerk Office, Freestone County Marriage Book, Book 1, Freestone County Clerk Office, P O Box 1010, Fairfield, TX 75840.

²Freestone County Genealogical Society, Freestone Frontiers, P.O. Box 14 Fairfield, TX 75840, Vol III # 3 Page 12, Aug 1983, City of Tyler Library, 201 S. College, Tyler, TX 75702.
"Marriage performed by G.W. Murray."

³Freestone County Genealogical Society, Freestone Frontiers, Volume XIII Issue #1 Page 19, Feb 1993.
The Wills Family of Cotton Gin.

⁴Freestone County Genelogical Society, Freestone County Cemeteries, P.O. Box 14 Fairfield, TX 75840, Page 49, 1980, Palestine Public Library, 1101 N. Cedar, Palestine, TX 75801, Gen 976.4232 Fre.

⁵Carolyn Rebuck <rebuck@glade.net>, Cotton Gin Cemetery Survey, USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm.
K1-051.

⁶Find A Grave Records, www.findagrave.com, Find A Grave Memorial# 11825051, Sep 25 2005.
This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.

⁷BY C. H. SMITH, CHIEF SURGEON,CHURCHILL'S DIVISION, Battle Report of Arkansas Post, GALVESTON TRI-WEEKLY NEWS MARCH 24, 1863, researched by Scott McKay.
"BATTLE REPORT OF
ARKANSAS POST, ARKANSAS.January 10 & 11, 1863
BY C. H. SMITH, CHIEF SURGEON,CHURCHILL'S DIVISION
AS PUBLISHED IN THEGALVESTON TRI-WEEKLY NEWSMARCH 24, 1863
researched by:SCOTT McKAY <mailto:SMckay1234@aol.com>

THE AFFAIR AT ARKANSAS POST.
Battle HouseHoustonFebruary 24, 1863
Sir: - Having recently arrived in your city, and hearing that little is yet known in regard to the fight at the "Post of Arkansas" by citizens here, as well as elsewhere in the Confederacy. I would make the subjoined statement of facts relative thereto, for the information of all who may feel interested in this matter.
The "Post of Arkansas" is situated on the north side of the Arkansas river, sixty miles from its mouth. The place was fortified with an earth work called "Fort Hindman," which fort mounted three large size guns, two case mated and one embarbette, together with some five or six field pieces, two of which were rifled Parrot guns. One mile below the fort was a trench extending from the river to a swamp. One mile or three quarters of a mile further down the river was yet another trench, intended for the defense of the place from a land attack unaided by gunboats. The troops garrisoning the place consisted of three brigades, mostly Texans, and commanded respectively by Cols. Garland, Deshler and Dunnington, the whole forming a division under the command of Gen. T. J. Churchill, and numbering on the day of the fight not more than thirty-three hundred effective men.
On the 9th day of January a scout from below brought intelligence to Gen. Churchill about a Yankee gunboat having made its appearance in the Arkansas river, at the White river cut-off, some thirty miles below the Post; towards noon on the same day another scout brought news of other gunboats, followed by transports, making their way up the river. Upon the receipt of this intelligence Gen. ordered everything in readiness for an attack and as night closed in all the troops were distributed along the first named line of entrenchment, where they remained all night in a pelting storm of rain.
The enemy in the meantime, had landed a force about two miles below us and we anticipated an attack by daylight the following morning, but in this we were disappointed; they made no demonstration until about 9 or 10 o'clock in the day, when they commenced shelling us from their advance gunboats. That were cautiously, and slowly making their way up the river.
Our troops held the position first taken by them until about 4 o'clock P. M., when the General, fearing a flank movement on our left, ordered the men to fall back to a line of entrenchments near the yet unfinished fort, which line was speedily completed and all the troops properly distributed before night set in. Just as darkness was drawing near, four gunboats approached the fort and commenced their bombardment, our guns from the fort answering gallantly, and after two hours terrific shelling the gunboats retired, one of them the Eastport, badly disabled, and our loss consisting of three killed and some three or four wounded.
On the morning of the 10th ult., at 10 o'clock, or thereabouts, the enemy renewed the attack with gunboats and landed forces combined; they had also erected a battery on the opposite side of the river, by means of which they kept up a terrible cross fire that swept the whole area of ground occupied by us. The firing now continued until about 4 o'clock P. M., [Ed: on the 11th] when it seemed to cease, and shortly after the cessation there was a yell came from the lines, which attracted the attention of the General Commanding, whose headquarters had been established some four hundred yards from the trenches. On riding forward to ascertain the state of affairs, the General was much surprised to find the Federal flag floating in every direction along their lines. Upon inquiry, it was ascertained, that some traitor in the 24th Texas regiment [Ed: 24th Texas Dismounted Cavalry] had raised the white flag and passed the word down the line that Gen Churchill had ordered a surrender, whereupon all the troops, except Col. Deshler's brigade [Ed: the brigade of the 10th Texas Infantry], immediately surrendered. He refused to surrender his brigade until ordered by Gen. Churchill.
When the General rode into the fort and surrendered, he was met by Gen. Sherman, who wished to know where his (Gen. Churchill's) men were. When Gen. C. told him they were all in sight, he seemed surprised, and could scarcely credit the fact that so small a body of troops had succeeded in battling for so long a time, and killing so many of his men.
The Federals acknowledge the loss of 1,600 killed and wounded, and I think 2,000 would not be a large figure, whilst we lost only about 100 in killed and wounded.
Gen. Churchill told Gen. Sherman that he had not ordered a surrender, but on the contrary that he had ordered the men to fight until all were dead in the trenches rather than surrender. He had telegraphed for reenforcements, and hoped they would reach him that evening. But I believe none were ever sent, save about 200 from St. Charles, on White river, who arrived just in time to be taken prisoners.
The number of prisoners taken at this Post was, probably about 3,500 - certainly not more than that number.
Your Respectfully,C. M. SmithChief Surgeon of Division."
Escaped capture at Arkansas Post.

⁸U.S. Government, 1880 U.S. Census Freestone County, Texas Tenth Census of the United States , Freestone TX Roll T9_1304 ED 56, Jun 16 1880, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.

⁹Professors Joseph T. Glatthaar (Department of History)andMichael S. Parks (Department of Decision and Information Scien, Texas Confederate Journals A Proposal for Preservation and Distribution, University of HoustonHouston, Texas 77204
(www.TEXREB.UH.EDU).
"Organization
The 12th Texas Confederate Infantry Regiment (also known as the 8th Infantry Regiment and Young's Regiment) was organized in early 1862 and surrendered in May 1865.
Engagements
Young's Point, June 7, 1863
Red River Campaign, March 10 - May 22, 1864
Camden Expedition, March 23 - May 3, 1864
Mansfield, April 8, 1864
Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864
Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864
Regimental Field and Staff
Original Regimental Officers:
Overton Young - Colonel February1862. Promoted to Brigadier General September 1862.
Other Regimental Officers:
William Clark - Lt. Colonel
Benjamin A. Philpott - Lt. Colonel
James W. Raine - Major, Lt. Colonel
Erastus W. Smith - Major
Regimental Journal
February 1862 - May 1862
Assigned to the Eastern District of Texas, Department of Texas
May - August 1862
Assigned to Eastern District of Texas, Trans - Mississippi Department
August 8, 1862
Ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas by Brigadier General P.O. Herbert
September 17,1862
Assigned to Colonel Young's First Brigade at Austin, Arkansas
September 28, 1862 - January 1863
Young's First Brigade assigned to Brigadier General Henry McCulloch's First Division, II Corps, Trans - Mississippi Department
January 14, 1863
General McCulloch's Division separated from Trans - Mississippi Department, assigned to General E. Kirby Smith's Southwestern Army
February - March 1863
Assigned to Young's - Hawe's Brigade, McCulloch's - Walker's Division, District of Arkansas, Trans - Mississippi Department
May 1863 - April 1864
Assigned to Hawe's - Waul's Brigade. McCulloch's - Walker's Division, District of Arkansas, Trans - Mississippi Department
June 9, 1863
Battle of Young's Point
March 10 - May 22, 1864
Red River Campaign
March 13, 1864
Hawes' Brigade marches to Long Bridge near Mansuro, Louisiana
March 15,1864
Hawes' Brigade marches to Tolbert's Bridge, seven miles below Cheneyville, Louisiana
March 23 - May 3, 1864
Camden Expedition
April - September 1864
Assigned to Waul's Brigade, Walker's Division, District of Arkansas, Trans - Mississippi Department
April 8, 1864
Battle of Mansfield
April 9, 1864
Battle of Pleasant Hill
April 30, 1864
Battle of Jenkins Ferry
May 23, 1864
Colonel Young recommended for promotion to Brigadier General, he and Brigade cited for bravery in General Waul's official report on Jenkin's Ferry
September 1864 - May 1865
Assigned to Waul's First Brigade, Forney's First Division, II Corps, Trans - Mississippi Department
May 26, 1865
Surrendered by Lt. General E. Kirby Smith commanding the Trans - Mississippi Department
________________________________________________________________________
Bibliography:
The War of the Rebellion, 128 vols.
Amman, William. Personnel of the Civil War. 2 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1961.
Sifakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Texas."

84. Madura Wills

¹FamilySearch (<http://www.familysearch.org>), from Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics. , Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 database
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. .
Digital images of originals housed at the State Registrar Office in Austin, Texas.FHL microfilm, 1290 reels.
Name: Madura Cobb
Death Date: 12 Jun 1957
Death Place: Teague, Freestone, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 84 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 04 Jan 1873
Birthplace: Teague, Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Simon Wills
Father's Birthplace: Mo.
Mother's Name: Mary Francis Owens
Mother's Birthplace: Texas
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Teague, Freestone, Texas
Cemetery: Union Cemetery
Burial Place: Freestone Co., Texas
Burial Date: 13 Jun 1957
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2135737
Digital Film Number: 4163648
Image Number: 2365
Reference Number: cn 31111.

²Find A Grave Records, www.findagrave.com, Find A Grave Memorial# 12847021, Jan 2 2006.
This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.

LaFayette Monroe Cobb

¹TX, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-2015 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-2015. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2014.

²Find A Grave Records, www.findagrave.com, Findagrave #52684388, May 21 2010.
This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.

85. William Eugene Wills

¹By Avery C. McKinney, Wills Family of Cotton Gin,The, Freestone Frontiers Feb 1993 Volume XIII Feb 1993 Freestone County Genelogical Society P.O. Box 14 Fairfield, TX 75840, Page 19, City of Tyler Library, 201 S. College, Tyler, TX 75702.

²World War I Draft Registration Cards
United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washin.

³Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, TX Death Certificates1903-1982, Certificate: 44606.
For additional information or copies of death records, please contact: Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics P. O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040(512) 458-7111.

⁴Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit., TX Death Index 1903-2000
/I>, Death Indexes from 1903-2000, Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.
For additional information or copies of death records, please contact: Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics P. O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040(512) 458-7111.

⁵Carolyn Rebuck <rebuck@glade.net>, Cotton Gin Cemetery Survey, USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm.
Plot#D2-047.

⁶Find A Grave Records, www.findagrave.com, Find A Grave Memorial# 11825044, Sep 25 2005.
This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.